Scoring the BBTS

The BBTS can be scored in various ways. One way is to use it to group people into various categories (for instance: those with high betrayal experiences and those without). Another way is to create subscales such as a "high betrayal score" and a "low betrayal score" that can be then used to predict other variables such as dissociation or anxiety.

Suggested Categorization of BBTS Items into A) Three Scales (High, Medium, and Low Betrayal) or B) Two Scales (High/More Betrayal and Low/Less Betrayal)

A) Three Scales: Traumas with High, Medium, and Low Betrayal

Trauma with High Betrayal

You were deliberately attacked that severely by someone with whom you were
very close.

You were made to have some form of sexual contact, such as touching or penetration,
by someone with whom you were very close (such as a parent or lover).

You were emotionally or psychologically mistreated over a significant period
of time by someone with whom you were very close (such as a parent or lover).

Trauma with Medium Betrayal

Witnessed someone with whom you were very close (such as a parent, brother
or sister, caretaker, or intimate partner) committing suicide, being killed,
or being injured by another person so severely as to result in marks, bruises,
burns, blood, or broken bones. This might include a close friend in combat.

Witnessed someone with whom you were very close deliberately attack another
family member so severely as to result in marks, bruises, blood, broken bones,
or broken teeth.

You were deliberately attacked that severely by someone with whom you were
not close.

You were made to have such sexual contact by someone with whom you were
not close

Experienced the death of one of your own children.

Experienced a seriously traumatic event not already covered in any of these
questions.

Trauma with Low Betrayal

Been in a major earthquake, fire, flood, hurricane, or tornado that resulted
in significant loss of personal property, serious injury to yourself or a
significant other, the death of a significant other, or the fear of your own
death.

Been in a major automobile, boat, motorcycle, plane, train, or industrial
accident that resulted in similar consequences.

Witnessed someone with whom you were not so close undergoing a similar kind
of traumatic event.

B) Two Scales: Traumas with High/More Betrayal and Low/Less Betrayal

Trauma with More Betrayal

Witnessed someone with whom you were very close (such as a parent, brother
or sister, caretaker, or intimate partner) committing suicide, being killed,
or being injured by another person so severely as to result in marks, bruises,
burns, blood, or broken bones. This might include a close friend in combat.

Witnessed someone with whom you were very close deliberately attack another
family member so severely as to result in marks, bruises, blood, broken bones,
or broken teeth.

You were deliberately attacked that severely by someone with whom you were
very close.

You were made to have some form of sexual contact, such as touching or penetration,
by someone with whom you were very close (such as a parent or lover).

You were emotionally or psychologically mistreated over a significant period
of time by someone with whom you were very close (such as a parent or lover).

Trauma with Less Betrayal

Been in a major earthquake, fire, flood, hurricane, or tornado that resulted
in significant loss of personal property, serious injury to yourself or a
significant other, the death of a significant other, or the fear of your own
death.

Been in a major automobile, boat, motorcycle, plane, train, or industrial
accident that resulted in similar consequences.

Witnessed someone with whom you were not so close undergoing a similar kind
of traumatic event.

Witnessed someone with whom you were not so close
deliberately attack a family member that severely.*

You were deliberately attacked that severely by someone with whom you were
not close.

You were made to have such sexual contact by someone with whom you were
not close

You were emotionally or psychologically mistreated
over a significant period of time by someone with whom you were not close.*